An Initial Set of Facts and Factors To Consider:
That NAIS Change Its Policy Allowing For-Profit Firms to Use the NAIS Career Center
Let’s start with the fundamental clarification “Who We Are.” NAIS’s “Public Policy Position on
Institutional Independence” raises this important issue of identity, and answers:
“Who We Are: The National Association of Independent Schools provides services to more than 1,800
schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including more than 1,500
nonprofit, independent private K-12 schools in the U.S. that are self-determining in mission and
program and are governed by independent boards.“ (from: http://www.nais.org/Articles/Pages/PublicPolicy-Position-on-Institutional-Independence.aspx, emphasis added).
Now, in contrast, here is what the BASIS Independent School of McLean, Virginia (BASIS McLean) says on
its own website about its school’s identity and about the core beliefs of NAIS (and AISGW). Attachment
2 quotes verbatim from BASIS McLean’s “answers” to four fundamental questions which starkly reveal
how contrary this school’s basic philosophy is to NAIS’s principle tenet of advancing its non-profit
member schools and its emphases on independence, educational excellence, good governance, and
equity. As excerpted below, BASIS McLean’s position on these issues, as probably would be many or
most other for-profit firms, are highly troubling.
Excerpted from BASIS McLean’s Q&A Website Page
http://mclean.basisindependent.com/admissions/frequently-asked-questions.php
1. What is a for-profit independent school?
a. “A for-profit independent school is a business. The school is owned by its investors . . . .”
b. “BASIS Independent schools break the traditional, elitist model of private education.
There is no self-perpetuating Board of Trustees made up of influential parents and
significant donors.”
2. Do you offer financial aid?
a. “At this time we do not offer any financial aid. We do offer tuition payment plans in one,
two, or ten installations [sic].”
3. What resources will you have in your school for students with special needs?
a. “We will not have resources on campuses for many special needs . . . .”
4. What distinguishes BASIS Independent schools from BASIS charter schools?
a. “BASIS Independent schools and BASIS charter schools are both managed by BASIS.ed,
[an abbreviation for “BASIS Educational Group”] an education management company.”
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A few observations regarding these assertions:

Observation 1: This for-profit school takes aim at the fundamental governance model of both
NAIS and its 1,500 “non-profit, independent” schools to ensure that NAIS schools are (1) “selfdetermining in mission and programs,” and (2) “governed by independent boards.”
Also, I would hope you and the NAIS Board would find that BASIS McLean’s:
o
o
o

Portrayal of our schools as “elitist model[s] of private education” is a demeaning and
insulting misrepresentation;
Characterization of independent schools’ Boards of Trustees as being “made up of
influential parents and significant donors” feeds into and fuels the most negative,
simplistic stereotype of NAIS and AISGW member schools’ governance and leaders;
Characterization of itself as a “business . . . owned by its investors” highlights that BASIS
McLean is owned and operated by a for-profit holding company comprised of for-profit
and non-profit entities.
Observation 2: This for-profit school’s policy not to “offer any financial aid” flies in the face of
NAIS’s “vision and values” statement. The “NAIS Vision” statement notes: “Behind the vision and
mission are the following four values, which guide our work at NAIS: Excellence, Equity,
Efficiency, and Emotion.” (See http://www.nais.org/About/Pages/NAIS-Vision.aspx)
Instead of providing need-based financial aid to students and families, which is at the heart of
NAIS equity initiatives, this for-profit firm’s “offer[ing] tuition payment plans in one, two, or ten
install[ments]” sounds more like the sales pitch of an aluminum siding or car salesman than a
legitimate response to the equity question “Do you offer financial aid?”

Observation 3: BASIS McLean’s response “We will not have resources on campus for many
special needs” (emphasis added) flies in the face of the value that NAIS places on the ability of
its member schools to provide all their students an “excellent . . . educational and life
experience” and “excellent learning that goes on in the classroom” for all students. (See
http://www.nais.org/About/Pages/NAIS-Vision.aspx)
The remainder of the response to this question tries to paint over this lack of appropriate
services for students with special needs with off-the-mark comments such as, “A BASIS
Independent student works hard, asks questions, and helps other people,” further illustrating
this school’s lack of appreciation for equity and services to address students’ special learning
needs.

Observation 4: NAIS should carefully consider and investigate the answer to this question that
“BASIS Independent schools and BASIS charter schools are both managed by BASIS.ed, an
education management company.”
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It’s important to note the fundamental concern that BASIS McLean is owned and operated by a
for-profit holding company with a diversity of for-profit and non- profit entities. One of these
entities is BASIS Schools, Inc., the Arizonan charter school operator that has operated sixteen
schools in Arizona, Texas, and the District of Columbia. In this regard, NAIS should be aware of
the following:
o The investors in this multi-faceted, for-profit holding company make the final
educational policy decisions.
o This entity is not the organization that started the Arizona charter schools about
which you are familiar.
o This is the entity that operates BASIS DC, from which the D.C. Charter School Board
rejected a request for expansion, citing concerns about the high number of students
who had withdrawn from the school since it opened. (See “DC charter board rejects
request of BASIS to expand.” washingtonpost.com).
o This multi-entity, for-profit holding company’s organizational structure violates NAIS
policy to “Encourage strong and transparent governance and best practices of taxexempt organizations.” (See http://www.nais.org/Articles/Pages/Public-PolicyPosition-on-Institutional-Independence.aspx)
o By allowing such a holding company to have full access to the NAIS Career Center
the NAIS Board contradicts its own “Institutional Independence” policy for NAIS
member schools to “Retain the ability . . . to hire high-quality teachers” (See
http://www.nais.org/Articles/Pages/Public-Policy-Position-on-InstitutionalIndependence.aspx)
For a fuller set of “Criticisms and Controversies” surrounding BASIS schools and the BASIS Educational
Group, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASIS_Schools.
I have more information to share with you on this topic if you’re interested. Perhaps, however, it would
be more helpful before the June 2016 NAIS Board meeting for you to hear from some of our
NAIS/AISGW Heads and Board leaders not only about BASIS but other reasons for wanting the NAIS
Board to revoke the policy allowing for-profit firms full access to the NAIS Career Center. I’d be glad to
provide you those names and their contact information. You will know them, I’m sure, to be among the
best thought-leaders NAIS and AISGW has to offer.
Respectfully submitted,
Dick Jung
Executive Director
Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW)
1524 35th Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
Office: (202) 625-9223
Cell: (202) 412-1857
[email protected]
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